• Network: USA
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 23, 2009
  • Season #: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. 90
    Beyond the formulaic outline, White Collar, is actually one of the best new shows of the season.
  2. Reviewed by: Paige Wiser
    75
    When the boys team up to bring down fancy criminal types, the dialogue is sharp, the music is snappy and the clothes are snazzy.
  3. 75
    The best thing about White Collar is DeKay and Bomer’s chemistry; DeKay in particular is able to wring subtle comedy from Burke’s irritation at Caffrey’s ability to get something for nothing.
  4. Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    67
    The con-man-works-with-G-man series is already a well-oiled machine, which is both good and bad. Good, because the interplay between Matt Bomer's hipster criminal and Tim DeKay's square fed is crisp; bad because the plots are often wilted.
  5. It's the best drama pilot I saw over the summer.
  6. Terrific acting, crackling dialogue and geek-hip crime are not the only things that make this the most electric drama to premiere this fall.
  7. It's well-paced, it's fun to watch and none of the characters needs to be anywhere near as annoying as, say, Nick Castle.
  8. 75
    Suspend all disbelief and relax. It ain't "Inspector Lewis," but it is stylish, good fun with dialogue as slick as those old Rat Pack suits Caffrey loves so well.
  9. Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    83
    White Collar is not original. But White Collar is enjoyable.
  10. It's a formula that's worked so far, and if you've already loved shows like "Psych" and "Burn Notice" and "Royal Pains," why shouldn't you love White Collar?
  11. The likable show has something for everyone: handsome young star, sympathetic "older" costar, pretty former TV hottie, easy-to-follow caper plots, a little humor.
  12. Light with no pretensions of loftiness, White Collar offers pleasant enough entertainment.
  13. Reviewed by: Lesley Smith
    80
    The show benefits as well from its lack of exposition, focus on present action, and a ruthless economy of editing rarely seen on primetime TV.
  14. If you can get past the shortcuts that series like this have to take (everything happens too effortlessly, there's excessive exposition, etc.), there's an enormous likability factor in play, and it makes you want to watch it (without much mental effort) the following 13 weeks.
  15. Reviewed by: Randee Dawn
    80
    This is a show packed with smart people who make things happen and, even when following a predictable forgery crime--one that shoots off into interesting side alleys--always are one step ahead of viewers' expectations.
  16. A winsome, quick-paced caper that is part “Catch Me if You Can,” part “Shampoo.”
  17. Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    80
    The high concept of this buddy mystery-comedy is as familiar as it is inviting.
  18. 75
    Tonight's 90-minute premiere is a tad overextended, but it still provides an effective and entertaining launchpad for the premise.
  19. Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    80
    This latest caper isn't at 'Burn Notice's" level yet, but based on the channel's track record, you'd be ill-advised to bet against it tracking down an audience.
  20. White Collar takes off in its own refreshing directions, with enough wit and sparkle to make the time fly by.
  21. Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    70
    The fizzily entertaining pilot of White Collar works hard to establish a vibe of style and smarts, and almost gets the job done.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. Must Watch... If you dont, you'll regret it :)
  2. One of the 5 best shows on TV. Sleek, smart, sexy, sophisticated. Love the plots, twists, writing. Love the characters, acting, and locations. Wouldn't change a thing about this show. Full Review »
  3. 3
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Found this series to be one of the few I have tolerated to watch beyond season 2 yet it somehow manages to fall short in so many ways as I continue watching it, be it the actors looking in the wrong directions when, for example, a car burned rubber to avoid them as they're talking to each other on how serious it is to be stalked by said car, or when Peter seemingly effortlessly taking his wedding-ring off with one pull and no tan-mark as he has been posing it to have it be one of his most important personal morals to show loyality or the overall bogus where two grown men can't kick a rather thin, antique old door down in order to chase after a fugitive but instead retorts to grabbing a nearby fire-extinguisher and slapping it against the door-knob. I could go on with how incredible amounts of dialog are added in afterwards, especially with the bald guy whenever you don't see his mouth but In short, White Colar manages to have a good run until it starts to fall on it's face. Repeatedly. I stopped watching for good when an entire FBI office is dedicating their resources to track down a notorious hacker, having a trap for him to go pick up money by a PO box, but instead, the hacker sends a delivery service to them containing an USB. First thought? Slam that sucker into the closest computer possible inside the FBI bureau and then act all surprised as 5 seconds later, they get infected with a virus. It gives me the same depression as watching really old people try to learn computers, but instead of old people, they are hollywood grade actors with full-time paid plot writers. The lack of detail or overall can be fascinating as at one point, one of the character decides to "hack" a nearby ATM; making it spit out money followed by the disctinct, undismissable line "Hey! That ATM over there is spitting out money!" in very clear context which gave me a laugh. A pathetic one, but a laugh none the same. Full Review »